"Drugs Aren't the Problem": Neuroscientist Carl Hart on Brain Science & Myths about Addiction

www.democracynow.org - As we continue our conversation on the nationwide shift towards liberalizing drug laws, we are joined by the groundbreaking neuro-psycho-pharmacologist Dr. Carl Hart. He is the first tenured African-American professor in the sciences at Columbia University where he is an associate professor in the psychology and psychiatry departments. He is also a member of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse and a Research Scientist in the Division of Substance Abuse at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. However, long before he entered the hallowed halls of the Ivy League, Hart gained first hand knowledge about drug usage while growing up in one of Miami's toughest neighborhoods. He recently wrote a memoir titled, "High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society." In the book, he recalls his journey of self-discovery how he escaped a life of crime and drugs and avoided becoming one of the crack addicts he now studies.
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[@sammiller2617]

I have worked as a therapist in a London prison for 25 years. The majority of those inmates I encounter with substance addiction are so as a result of biopsychosocial reasons and I completely concur with what dr Hart, Mate and Alexander espouse in this regard. It is when an individual is dislocated from themselves, society and a meaningful existence that addiction occurs. A complex change in how we support societies' most vulnerable people plus challenging the appallingly unfair distribution of wealth and opportunities, therein, including eradicating racism can we start to tackle this. A wonderful insightful man.

[@origins777]

For me I found myself becoming niahlistic, and very apathetic towards people because I was feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of society, I suffer from ADHD and because of life traumas I found myself idealizing horrible things, thoughts I wasn't proud of, for me cannabis allowed an escape to a place where I can introspectively examine my life and and gave me another reason to live, my work pressures became minimal, burnout started to reset. what has worked best was all the harm reduction information I found on the internet. To say drugs have no good function for society is a lie, it just requires a strong respect for what you consume regardless of how safe it is and support from your community rather than the usual shaming you get from neurotypical humans who assume if I'm fine then that means you should be too.

[@classwarhooligan923]

Sam Miller is a certified working class hero. Your career and politics are like a power couple. 💥

[@dereckvon]

A brilliant honest man.

[@irshgrl500]

Agreed!

[@geekdivaherself]

I can't believe that Dr. Ben Carson is more famous than this guy!

[@FourSeasonsNorth4x4]

geekdivaherself Who?

[@greatnews1930]

Spirit of addiction Jesus sets you free .

[@BeGioBijoux]

A MEN

[@KingBrandonm]

As an avid lover of all drugs, Dr. Carl Hart and his work has been a huge inspiration to me on responsible use and harm reduction.

[@samanthataylor7817]

responsible use of WHAT???? OMg though... like be serious😂

[@ramdizzle8]

@@samanthataylor7817responsible use of alcohol is a thing and that’s more destructive than any other drug

[@oz9213]

People that are quick to point at a single black mother and her welfare as a problem need to listen up -----> 13:44 He is the face of welfare.. Thank You so much Dr. Hart for all you do.

[@FromHellDesigns]

More people need to hear this guy!!!!!!!!!

[@edwardmatthews5899]

Now hes a better spokesperson on these matters than all these other speculating pros who think they know it all.

[@chrislemaster2695]

THIS MAN NEEDS TO BE OUR NEW HEAD OF DEA

[@robertcrusher1972]

Or work with them. They need to actually do their job about busting substances coming in the county and leave American people alone with zero reason for them to continue to terrify and harm them, and for so for so long now.. they are so corrupt!

[@kurtniznik8116]

No, we just need to get rid of the DEA.

[@clownchaostime3024]

@@robertcrusher1972 the DEA answers to no one. They run their shit, their way. They are the most powerful, legal gang in the world. Alot of DEA agents have very shady and checkered pasts.

[@robertcrusher1972]

@@clownchaostime3024 while I agree with you, I’m talking about how we can’t get rid of them “today”. One of their cash cows right now is to harm people in pain, and it seems likely that they did that when they couldn’t attack people about cannabis to the extent that they were able to do in the past. I was explaining that if they WERENT corrupt, they would be focusing on other things than what they do. I have had to live in fear of them much of my life, by being close to people that value cannabis and are POC, and then my own illnesses and what medications I utilize to have semblance of life. It’s people like Perdue MIXED with protections and corruption of the DEA that should matter to us all. That I used an example of what it would look like IF they did their jobs right (yeah right, they have always known about what is getting inside the country anyway) and WEREN’T corrupt doesn’t mean that I agree that they should exist. However, we have limited *close to no* control in the US, so that is what I’m speaking to:They exist. -My comment was a *band aid concept* because of that lack of control of the people I’m a harm reductionist, and think everything should be legalized and decriminalized. If Portugal can do it, so can we. But not likely to happen in the U.S. they are too busy traumatizing sick and poor people and POC constantly, and making money off of people all at the same time. A lot like how the police do things. 🤷🏻👍

[@robertcrusher1972]

@@clownchaostime3024 but if we had the ability to dissolve them, I’d be all for that. So would a lot of people I want massive change too, but not sure that the U.S knows how to do that...about much of ANYTHING.

[@user-xd8pj2mm4t]

100 percent CORRECT!! When will people LISTEN?!?

[@stevewalther2293]

They are in their own minds...

[@RagingKuja]

People in the comments are so mad. lol Glad they know more than someone who studied it for 23 years.

[@TheL3gacyIV]

+bishplis not always wrong

[@kellnola]

That's why I come to youtube. To ignore the person who knows their shit and really learn from all the imbeciles that comment.

[@thomasmitchell5037]

If we don't learn from what's not working, that'd be the way their doing it now. Or if we can't reach for something better we will be stuck believing the world is flat or on the back of a Titan. Come on folk's if these drugs or so terrible we need to get rid of our government which allowing companies to manufacture and distribute them. Of course I think the government needs a major overhaul. I had a friend had his daughter taken because some jerk got pissed and called defac. With no apparent proof they went to the school and started interigsting the principle the child's teacher and class mates. Here's the kicker. She was the #1 student in her grade, teachers pet, and NEVER made a grade below 100. That's right 100. It should have stopped right there. No they went to the house, which was in order, the father working his ass off to provide. They want to swab his and moms mouth. Yeah they used but the child was not in harms way. I know cause I made sure, i wasn't concerned with their drug use I had heard other stories about different abuse which was false. I call that a violation of civil rights. Made want to hurt someone. They took the child disrupted her now who knows if shell recover. Personally I know she will because I made sure there some manner. A way that didn't destroy the child. But so many times there's no one there to help. We need to stop the direction we are headed b4 its to late, or is it already to late. You come to me with news of debt Telling me were on the edge of regret The world clock sits at three tics from hell Vibrations toll from the church bell Old news from histories past Chronic sanity goes no where fast I want to help me break lose and be free Want you please help us see how you and I can be we Panic among the many is always news Esteem taught only for the reviews Caught in a circle with no way in Hiding the obvious in a word called sin Hoping for excuses so we can pretend Blaming others brings our end I want to help me break lose and be free Want you help us see how you and I can be we

[@justjoy7194]

Because we are the addicts. Our friendly Doctors who are now going to Prison, just dropped us. Are you 65 years old? Do you even know what pain is yet?

[@thomasmitchell5037]

Joy Vradenburg I'm not 65 but I do know what pain is. Believe it or not my worst pain comes from my heart. Emotionally.

[@great567]

Everything is addictive. Even food...just look at Governor Christie

[@MixtapeKilla2004]

That's right!

[@cravinbob]

Dr Hart would question you on that point you think you have made. He would ask you to define what you think "addiction" is and what it really is. Tossing a word around is part of the problem we have in this country.

[@zoesdada8923]

Food is the most addictive substance in the world.

[@pf961]

@@zoesdada8923 Nah water then food

[@ThingsILikke]

Usually there’s an underlying medical condition or stress-induced issues that lead to overeating. Takes a lot of health literacy to get the right solution.

[@stevetolman6652]

Of course we all heard what we wanted to hear, or our perceptions allowed.....either way this man has spent a large portion of his life trying to help a person like me, whom he never met, didnt ask for any money, and whos motivation was to help an addict like myself overcome addiction.....what can i say thank you doesnt seem to measure up!! Your actions are an inspiration for us all!!

[@Everymanforhimself2024]

Spend your tax dollars on social issues instead of military toys, you will be a more powerful nation. Get it together united statesians!

[@Judicial78]

Kind of hard to do that when half the nation is brainwashed into thinking any spending on the general public is teh dreaded communism!

[@northwestpsychfest7329]

***** Interesting. Not sure what you mean by your comment, "they continue to increase the amount they take from us to give to others." Tax rates on the wealthiest Americans are at their lowest in 30 years. Global recessions typically result in an increase in so-called 'welfare' spending. Redistribution of wealth is the function of all government systems. Especially in the US given the fact that spending is the primary economic driver.

[@zoesdada8923]

Typical moronic, self important, soyboy. The only reason we get to have "social issues" is due to military protection. If not for our powerful military you would be living in some work camp somewhere being used as slave labor. Other nations and people are waiting for us to show weakness. People like you, social justice idiots are nothing but weakness.

[@Arkinight]

Gabor Mate and Carl Hart should both be on for an interview.

[@beebles3]

Arkinight couldn't agree more. Gabor Mate should certainly be a name that is brought up in any debate on these issues

[@felichia808]

Dr. Hart is definitely a brilliant scientist and knows the importance of critical thinking to find causes & solutions for drug dependence.

[@missdiablica666]

I have friends who have done every kind of drug there is legal or not. The only time they had issues with it was when there was another problem: work, relationship etc. That's when it got out of control and usually stop if the underlying problem was gone.

[@KingBrandonm]

missdiablica666 i use many drugs, meth being one of my main. My rule of thumb no matter how much i use, no matter how often is to immediately end drug use when negative life issues start cropping up. I never use drugs to cope with anything and have never been addicted despite using what society considers hard drugs for almost a decade now.

[@JoeyMartz]

100 agree! well stated.

[@TrillHipHop]

Definitely Carl Hart is a brilliant mind...

[@efortune357]

1:44 “In fact, I’ve been studying drugs for about 23 years. For about 20 of those years I believed that drugs were the problem in the community but when I started to look more carefully, started looking at the evidence more carefully, it became clear to me that drugs weren’t the problem. The problem was poverty, drug policy, lack of jobs, a wide range of things and drugs were just one sort of component that didn’t contribute as much as we have said they have.” ~Dr Carl Hart, Chair of the Department of Psychology at Columbia University Author of “High Price: A Neuroscientist’s Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society”

[@vladb7742]

About time we have proper people like Dr.Hart educating the public properly.

[@dustinspencer7215]

Thank you Dr. Hart. I enjoyed the book immensely. In my particular situation, I've seen a lot of what you have seen, unfortunately quite a bit more, but in much of the same way. I came to the same conclusion, decriminalization of currently illegal substances, from my experiences with my culture. I am a so-called 'Native American Indian' and I hope this book helps to illuminate many of the issues associated with the prohibition of 'drugs'.

[@gnarmarmilla]

May God bless you and your people with rich blessings. Amen

[@samanthataylor7817]

good luck with that.. all due respect.. it's completely unrealistic. I respect ur efforts and willing attitude. 😂I find it kinda funny even so. it's sad to see hopeful ppl meaning well and thinking of change go down the path of useless antics. 💔 falling on deaf ears.

[@ItsUncl3MyK3y]

Powerful Dr Carl Hart

[@hanzohasashi2522]

this guy smart shot out to him, he explains things good and on there perspectives.

[@keithrobinson1956]

You are illiterate pal.

[@TheOrangesEverywhere]

@@keithrobinson1956 oh no, is his teacher gonna give him a D-?

[@GoogleUser-wy2vv]

Thanks for responding about being the first and what that means about this society.

[@GoogleUser-wy2vv]

great responses ...amazing Dr. Hart. Thank you for speaking truth.

[@robertaglass]

Thank you Dr. Hart for your brave truth telling!

[@ipkeez]

Cheers to this man.

[@01paluz]

Ouvi todo o programa. Esplêndido depoimento! Merece toda a atenção. Cumprimentos

[@TheOrangesEverywhere]

​@@blackadam2533 More like people kill for money more than they have ever killed for "drugs". Do you need evidence? Whats your relation to the Duterte regime?

[@Romer411]

Here's a commonsense approach love your work dr carl

[@shockawha9]

The legal consequences are more damaging than the actual substances!

[@drorose2225]

Thank you for your service.

[@superfuzzymomma]

Thank Goodness for this gentleman. Can't emphasize that enough. Thank Effing Goodness!

[@BeGioBijoux]

Thank you for interviewing him! Every time o watch him, my hope gets renewed. A true SCIENTIST I would LOVE to read his open letter to his son on ultra net, anyone has the link?

[@classwarhooligan923]

I first saw Carl Hart on a TEDx video where he gave a passionate speech about drug abuse and our societies awful view of drug users. Later, I saw him on a Netflix special about the crack epidemic ( _sponsored by the CIA_ ). He’s a cool guy that is the textbook definition of “underdog”. People like him should take the place of our greed infected role models.

[@gboogie360]

Poverty and education has always been a direct issue but the drugs was the icing on the cake and was intentional..

[@ShiraGoldberg]

Can't wait to have him on as a guest! I am quite the optimistic one!

[@banana_1_]

this video really opened my eyes

[@wildpett]

This is a great interview

[@jochen3698]

Thanks for your work!

[@ReCkLeSsErr0r]

I am so glad he mentioned rob ford. Over here in Canada, people were screaming about rob fords addiction but yet he still did his jobs prior to.

[@DominikSobolewski]

ReCkLeSsErr0r cuz people think occasional indulgence = addiction. it's maddening to be a non-addict to drugs, and kept being accused of being an addict by just occasionally consuming a drug.

[@skramamme685]

***** It's also maddening being an addict and being told that that precludes me from being an articulate, compassionate, capable human being.

[@DominikSobolewski]

Sorry to hear you have an addictive personality. However I think addiction can be overcome in the mind first.

[@skramamme685]

***** I don't see why my personality needs to be "overcome" rather than managed, just like my other mental and physical health issues. LBR here, the only reason is because of the stigma associated with addiction, because it's viewed as a flaw or weakness rather than a legitimate health issue. I am on prescribed opiates and have a good quality of life, I am a mother, I have two very lucky cats, some good people in my life and a roof over my head and good food in my belly. I look at it this way; I use a crutch to help me walk and my opiates help to ease both the physical pain and help to ease the symptoms of a lifetime of bipolar II and anxiety- I don't see it as being any less valid a choice as using my physical crutch. And neither do my pain management doctors, because they also specialise in addiction and understand the attitudes towards long term addicts is down to moral outrage rather than sound science. So please, don't feel sorry for me, I certainly don't :)

[@ThinkOutSideBXxs110]

***** No...lol That is not exactly true. I would agree to some point, that the mind does have a heavily influence on how one’s thinking goes. Yes that is true. But.. There are other factors to why people having drug abuse, due to the fact of high levels of depression. If you study chemistry and genetics, you will see that some people genetically are born with a gene that creates the chemical imbalance for high levels of depression and suicide. In those cases the mind doesn’t have a chance, especially for those people who have a much more week mind on dealing with problems, issues, criticisms, and some of the sufferings that life can throw at you. For many people who are addicted to heroin or cocaine; and other drugs, as like alcohol too. Even though I don’t have an addictive personality, but if you’ve been around people with high levels of depression, and how they react on prescription pills, or heroin. You notice then calming down and having less issues on very depressing, and suicidal thoughts. For some of those people heroin or cocaine could feel like the only relief they can really have. Some people’s minds are just not prepared and are very weak to deal with life. But then, study chemistry and genetics to which DNA runs a terrible mock. Well..you have a whole another problem at hand. Therefore, the mind for some people with his bad genetic makeup, will lose the fight. And this is the issue that we need to study, and deal with this as a form of a social disease with depression, to which it will turn into drug abuse. Society has failed at this, and looking at the real Science...

[@jujushaller]

Very good interview!

[@jochen3698]

Great talk, great man!

[@umiluv]

So true about welfare. My family had to go on welfare for 6 months after my dad decided to bail on us. If it weren’t for welfare and public grants for low income families for college, my brother and I wouldn’t be where we are today. We’re both tax paying citizens that have achieved secondary education and have never committed any crimes, etc. The narrative that people have about those who are on welfare focuses on the few that take advantage of the system vs the many who’ve used the system to become high functioning members of society.

[@titahibayflier3160]

Can you air this back on Tv? This guy is smart.

[@alexlodda]

Totally buying his book

[@birdholdingsrealstate1410]

Awesome!

[@elflaco6654]

My 2cents, I have been on and off heroin for a long time. One of the problems among many w/ this street drug it's quality is never the same. OK on average when I was strung out I would need one bag(20bucks worth) in the morning and another in the late afternoon that is to say if the drug was consistently OK dope. It never was though sometimes a 40 dollar a day habit could cost 60-80bucks to have the same affect and that is just staying well w/o any nod/high. Nodding off is what happens after the rush and once you have the addiction for awhile, none of that exists because of the tolerance unless one does 5bags of dope at once which I did back in the 90's (insane decade)... So the dealers/black market set the price and strength of street drugs and heroin becomes expensive taking and taking until there's nothing left except a 6ft hole in the ground, it is pure hell to be dope sick and have to go to work to support a drug habit. Thank God I ended up doing some time in prison and found a purpose in life that saved me from ever going back to heroin. It's been since 1999 since I used heroin. I do smoke medical cannabis but the hard drugs I am against, but I do think they should be legalized and controlled in a clinic type setting. The war on drugs is a front to fuel an industry for the jails, cops, prisons n guards lawyers, judge's, DEA etc. and dealers n cartels all make billions off stuff that cost pennies to make be it coke, heroin, marijuana, meth, mdma, alcohol... it's all about numbers and money most importantly it's about lives and the way drugs are used today even by big pharma to enslave people. A vice (addiction) is this centuries way of enslaving people. The war on drugs is the longest and most expensive war in the history of America with no viable solution in sight. It is a war w/o an end that can not be won. Peace

[@xedousnosimaj505]

Big vibes thank you big bro

[@HugeJohn51]

Great interview.

[@joegamble328]

Respect sir

[@livevegan]

Carl Hart's comments about alcohol are quite misleading. And as far as alcohol making people interesting? lol please

[@phanoonki]

that comment was so "uninteresting".

[@tyroneslyce4879]

Live Vegan Not really.. What specifically do you take issue with? Is the problem the fact he's not willing to jump on the anti alcohol bandwagon? Alcohol does make people more interesting because it breaks down barriers and acts as a truth serum for allot of people, say what you want regarding subjective matters, but that's simply a fact. This may help people whom are so absurdly shy and have interesting ideas to reveal..

[@jjfghjpnwf5119]

@@tyroneslyce4879 yea, alcohol is social lubricant

[@MrCoolios99]

When the world finally applies the power of the mind to understand we can finally apply understanding to those who don't use their minds

[@ericagoza4646]

Very smart man.

[@amberduenas1959]

I love this man he point on

[@CorzIlla]

Dr Heart is the voice of smart and sensible drug policy. WAKE UP WORLD and STOP LYING TO THE PEOPLE.

[@lsporter88]

Great video.

[@Isoviaergatis]

This guy is great overall. I've read one his books, very engaging stuff! But alcohol can be beneficial to your heart?

[@JoeyMartz]

He is making total sense... It is about the underlying causation of misusing narcotics... It is a psychological matter. CBT, DBT and other types of talk therapy are key to self-examine and discover the internal triggers yielding an individual to abuse drugs..... This is simplifying the issue, but holds weight/water (IMHO).

[@mackcarrob4547]

Both Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have preaching this for years and years and years. I have first hand knowledge that 10 years ago councilors at treatment centers have been identifying the fact that "drugs are a symptom of underlying issues an addic0 the addicts

[@ericwright5455]

Both the cults you named are narrow minded and have old ideas.

[@AfghanApothecary]

Preach brother preach

[@dagmastr12]

A good point mentioned not demonizing the drug.. Right on they are a miracle in medicine. Parents need to do their job.

[@M1gas]

awesome!

[@svartvist]

Dr Stan Katz said the same thing in his book The Codependency Conspiracy published in 1991. He didn't have much good to say about the 12 step program either. Most all the treatment regimes did not address the underlying behavior problem(s) driving those who were "addicted."

[@Csio12]

Once i started i wanted more. After 20yrs instead of 2 glasses wine a day it became a bottle. I could never go back to 2 glasses. I had to stop all alcohol.

[@aaronzywicki6384]

I Want Him In The White House ! I'm So Sick Of The Government Telling Us What We Can Put In Our Bodies !

[@leocarbaugh5074]

My hero

[@jimfberry]

Smart guy!

[@qualityelectronic]

Talks sense.

[@SamanthaHamlin-Pate]

Bravo

[@DWHAT9000]

For all those that do not know and may be interested, Carl Hart was on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, a free podcast. Check it out!

[@laraoneal7284]

I agree with this guy.

[@RickKaiserrsk]

To me, drug addictions are born out of an individual's long term social inhibitions and their inability to cope with society's psychological negatives. The more society pushes one negatively the greater a person is likely become abusive with their drug use. An individual who uses any drug or combination thereof to ease their psychologic illness will either over medicate himself or herself or they may learn to ease their drug addiction usage and keep it under control so not to hinder one's other Life Responsibilities.

[@MatthewMcCool]

Well said.

[@jochen3698]

Top!

[@jerrytom3514]

I like this guy

[@TravisCatherall-lj5dx]

Go brother

[@mattbaker4167]

quality

[@zoesdada8923]

Law enforcement is the problem and it's not "liberalising" drug laws. It's going back to the foundation of constitutional law.

[@adamdorsett5973]

Truth!!!

[@damilookood80]

man this guy is real

[@jongirard2753]

The drug users I've encountered seem to be incapable of producing a coherent point. My anecdotal evidence is quite contrary to Mr. Hart. I have a litany of experiences that all point to addiction. I do appreciate the Doctor's work. I'll keep reading a variety of opinions on this subject.

[@georgew.douche26yearsago65]

Same here but it was when I was working near skid row. I've seen people doing coke at weekends at parties and not becoming addicted though.

[@jjfghjpnwf5119]

@@georgew.douche26yearsago65 You can do coke everyday without becoming addicted...I've done coke everyday at my job, to do my job better. I would do two or three lines a day, (very small amount), just to stimulate myself enough to do my work faster, better, with more focus... And i never became addicted. I just stopped using. Today i use cocaine sometimes as well, about once in every 2 months.

[@jacquelineedorssers444]

people need to educate themselves on Harm Reduction Strategies..

[@CrowdPleeza]

How common are his views among other addiction experts?

[@LamentableAngst]

Well, amongst those who speak openly about addiction to the public, he is in the minority. However, I believe a high percentage of scientists in this world, perhaps even the majority, concur with what Dr. Hart is saying. The data doesn't lie; most people who use psychoactive substances recreationally, even "hard" drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, etc, continue to lead functional lives and never become addicts. The reality is that non-addicted recreational users often have no difficulties hiding their use from whomever they wish, and therefore the "Face of Addiction" becomes the obvious, depressing wastrel smoking/shooting/chugging their drug of choice in an alley-- and as Hart points out, the media and many medical health professionals intentionally perpetuate the misconception that most recreational drug users are addicts. Alcohol is, after all, a very powerful drug, and most people who imbibe are not alcoholics...

[@CrowdPleeza]

I would like to see Dr. Hart try crack and heroin a few times to see if he can stay functional after using them.

[@jjfghjpnwf5119]

@@CrowdPleeza He actually did bunch of heroin and crack...He stated that in his book and joe rogan interview. And also...Switz is the perfect example of heroin addicts being functional... The reason heroin addicts get disfunctional in the first place is bcs social and law unacceptance...People who use heroin are usually left out on streets, and they get sucked into criminal cycal bcs of stupid law.

[@luisathexplorer]

I think I died with the “ they are committed cocaine users “ 😂😂😂I am so GRATEFUL to YOU and the work and activist work that you do Dr.Hart !!!! For this research and the platform you have created for people to become comfortable talking about using legal drugs for their self evolvement . I had read this research before but I didn’t know it was you !!!

[@mikeswanson6543]

Yay you discovered that psychological criteria of "functionality" is devoid of real wisdom. Regardless of policy arguments, he says in this interview that moderate crack use is the same as moderate red wine 4:42. Lab experiments on drug addicts? Quick quotes from this interview "We need intoxicants" "Some people get addicted because it's the best option for them" "We need to teach people to use crack and heroin more safely because they're not going anywhere." Unbelievable.

[@iodgsdpiuas-gp9uaisd-g0fh-0]

and what reply do you actually have besides baseless criticism? you used a lot of words to not actually say anything, dumbass

[@kris31991]

Facts 💯👏

[@johnkuipers7829]

It's all the underlying problems for people that cause. partly, addiction. We live in a callous society. No real community, no real connections. Just social media and cell phone nonsense.

[@bizallin]

this man is intelligent...

[@ayandanoxolo]

Drugs are not going anywhere!! ✊🏾✊🏾

[@ericagoza4646]

I kind of hate how this lady doesn't really share HER opinion. At some points she comes off as Skeptical, or agreeing with him... i guess that's the interviewers job tho not to state their opinion.. just wish she would either agree or disagree . This man tho really amazes me. You can tell he has many emotions but he carries himself wonderfully.

[@cherylonharrison8465]

i understand the trials, however, were the people that were on the trials still put through everyday trials and tribulations that they would endure in the outside world. in other words, they are not able to partake of the drug, but released from the hospital on a daily basis for a certain amount of time. of course in a controlled environment, one doesn't have to endure the same circumstances. i have been around working addicts. however, when there is no drug and something happens, that is when you see real reactions. not saying that 23 years of research is wrong, but there is so much more research and researchers needed. thanks for your information.

[@cbishop41483]

Drugs are AMAZING!! its people that are fd up and broken, and cant handle the awesomeness

[@KingBrandonm]

Chris Bishop agreed!

[@yendyvilma2681]

You're absolutely correct. I am one of those broken people. If your life in general is F'd up don't do drugs it'll make it even worse. Oh and if you have low self esteem; forget about it.

[@joedragich]

Telling it like it is. Period.

[@justjoy7194]

Now off norco, i can't even get out of bed...

[@jhoanperez8492]

not the drugs are not the problem is just the side efects that this cause, and the person when they don't have the drug it can become irrational and dangerous. even sometimes when they consume. so please don't tellme that the drugs are not a problem.

[@LilyMarr]

When society doesn't have social life or events or to do anything in that community with people people turn to drugs it's not like society don't know what the hell is going on

[@c23am]

Damn, his comments were great until he compared cannabis with alcohol, a relevant comparison, but the toxicological data is dramatically different, you die easily from alcohol, you don't die from cannabis.

[@benedictwong1696]

He brought that up in another video though

[@parisotto86]

+c23am agree

[@librom5542]

Any addiction can kill you.

[@jjfghjpnwf5119]

Yeah agree....Drinking 10 beers a day is way worse then smoking 10 joints, of course... But i think dr. Hart was talking about something different... For example most people who drink alcohol dont drink that much, but they drink one or two drinks a day or even a weak.. So one ore two drinks a day can be healthier then one two joints a day.... So from that perspective, alcohol can be less harmful...

[@zuutlmna]

In a sociological/political/economic, etc., context, drugs are a symptom. Of course, that's a bit off-topic from this, which has to do with the specific neurobiology of the brain, and its apparent receptivity to psycho-active, psychotropic, etc. drugs.

[@zuutlmna]

+Carl Lelandt My badness... -Should've watched the clip first.. But I see he does go into those other aspects. I'm kind of an utopian idealist when I think about society, at least in terms of its potential. In some respects, I think American society is rather regressing, instead of progressing. And in order for society to genuinely progress, we need both a more enlightened leadership, as well as general population. So we're stuck with a very naive population that mostly just wants to inform itself from TV and the like. And a leadership that rather exploits that, for agenda that I consider nefarious, at best.

[@mrmtn37]

+Carl Lelandt We need to stand up and take this assinine government back I have had enough and I really cant believe how badly people took a total beat down by a fully dilusional govt elected by an ignorant public that is going to pay dearly when the dollar devalues in the near future. We gotta change this crap. We are lied to robbed and it doesnt need to be this way man my heart breaks i read our founding documents over and over and they are more and more bieng forgotten the power the right to take back our govt. this shit ain't workin an I would rather die peacefully marchin in to fire the lot of lieing greedy bastards then to die trying to feed my family ive just straight up had enough

[@zuutlmna]

I advise people to join reliable local militias. If you're Christian, some of the larger denominations likely have such. Some may even have off-grid SHTF communities for their people.

[@MyLifeIzPink]

Another point is this: He talked about the mayor of Toronto being able to smoke crack and still do his job. The thing that concerns me though, is that crack does brain damage with long term use. And what about the lungs?

[@WheelieTruther]

I doubt it damages the lungs more than Cigarettes can and I doubt it damages the brain more than Alcohol can. I highly recommend you watch the documentary that's on Netflix "The House i live in", which Carl Hart is featured in, which further explains my brief statements.

[@MyLifeIzPink]

Um, if you smoke crack, you smoke cigarettes. The two go hand in hand.

[@cactusjackslade7653]

Heather Dawn Culpepper Long term health effects do not justify criminalization of a substance. If that were the case, tobacco and alcohol use and/or possession would be criminal behavior.

[@ReCkLeSsErr0r]

Heather Dawn Culpepper Thats a faulty generalization. I have a friend who was a former crack addict and he has never touched one cigarette.

[@MyLifeIzPink]

Yeah, right.

[@SELASSIEDAY]

respect fi this man he is avanced n great but still not accurated because humans are so different from eachother so do a rule n a scheme is very not possible.. real addiction born from traumatic happenings.. i not gustify it just explane .. n the answer to pain n struggle it form personality.. loop follow automedication because that pleasure compensating all love n affection not get from 0 to 8 age old when personality forming ..abandones n all it can bring.. so for some person drugs can be very invasive n delete all motivations to carry on things.. but as doctor carl say drug not really a problem but underlyed issues with traums , scotomas , depression or mental isssues.. that in case of addicted people it result in a automedication..its very deep topic ..wish one day all that will go better and that addiction will scheduled in a real affective disorder etc etc bla bla levels of addiction are different n various a lot fi every single person is very different and lot of nuances are involved.. plus lot of the consecuences of drug mess is make from law that still criminalizing drugs instead of regualting them.. so this factor mix make addiction n drug use worst. of course it is subjective .. or so ... jah bless.

[@lronheart6660]

If drugs cant affect the brain of a drugaddict how he can explain what happened to my father. My father use to be a drug addict but he quit drugs now but theres a problem his positive about being crazy now. He didnt passed psychology test.

[@jjfghjpnwf5119]

Of course it can affect??? When he said its opposite? Drug addicts will always have perma negative consequencess on their brain, but when they stop using, in most cases brain regenerates to 90%... So its in the normal range of functioning.

[@Ardante11]

@@jjfghjpnwf5119 my issue is what happens when a casual/“non addicted” drug user has a kid? Do they track those statistics. My brothers first wife was a occasional cocaine user in her teens but found god(got scared after a friend OD’d) and went clean where she met my brother at church. They got married after two years(1998) and sadly their daughter has had mental issues and goes into seizures in stressful situations. She’ll likely never be able to drive a car. My brothers 2nd daughter from his 2nd wife does not have any issues and his 2nd wife was military and completely drug free. My coworker in Louisville, her ex husband was an alcoholic and 2/3 of her sons are also alcoholics. This is where I need for Dr Hart to investigate what’s the birth implications for these users and how long does it take one to be clean before they can have a kid. My brother said to me to never marry/have kids with someone who has these habits, even if they’re in control and not addicted.

[@MixtapeKilla2004]

High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society (P.S.)Paperback - June 10, 2014 by Carl Hart (Author)

[@9ndn11]

Dr hart knows his shit

[@xoshelbz]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻